Archambault Surprise

ARCHAMBAULT SURPRISE BIQUILLE
A characterful, high-performance, versatile sailboat perfectly suited for coastal navigation!

Designed by the renowned architect Michel Joubert and built by the Archambault yard, the Surprise is a true reference among 7 to 8-meter sailboats. Appreciated for decades for its marine qualities, responsiveness at the helm, and sailing enjoyment, it appeals to both racing enthusiasts and pleasure sailors seeking a lively and manageable boat.

This 2002 bilge-keel version is particularly well-suited for navigation along the Brittany coasts. With a draft limited to only 1 meter, it provides access to numerous moorings, ports, and navigation zones that are difficult to reach with deep-keel sailboats. Its bilge-keel configuration also allows for beaching on suitable bottoms, a valuable advantage for exploring the islands, rias, and many coastal harbors.

The Surprise retains the sporty DNA that made its reputation: an efficient hull, a wheel steering providing great sensations, and a practical deck plan. It is suitable for day trips, coastal navigations, and short cruises.

This boat has a comprehensive wardrobe allowing full exploitation of its potential under different wind conditions:

Semi-lattice mainsail Le Bihan Dacron (2016)
Genoa Le Bihan Dacron (2017)
Solent Le Bihan Dacron (2019)
Two symmetric spinnakers
Asymmetric spinnaker (2020)

Spinnaker pole and retractable aluminum whisker pole
Facnor LS70 roller furler (2024)
Standing rigging replaced in 2024
Dyneema halyards for mainsail and genoa (2018)

The deck hardware includes four Lewmar winches, a mainsail track, halyard sheaves at the cockpit, and a rigid Barton halyard tensioner.

Navigation electronics:
Raymarine ST40 Bidata speed/log, Raymarine depth sounder, wireless Tacktick wind instrument, Garmin GPSMap 78 portable GPS, Plastimo Mini Contest and Raymarine Micro Compass.

Comfort and amenities:
The interior offers a simple, functional space with two berths, a headroom of 1.46 meters under the beams, and a single-burner gas stove.

The cockpit features a table and a bathing ladder. The boat also benefits from a 12V/220V electrical system, a shore power socket, a Quick charger, and a 70 Ah service battery (2021).

Engine and dinghy:
Yamaha 6 HP outboard engine
20-liter fuel tank
PVC inflatable dinghy with hard floor
Yamaha 2 HP two-stroke dinghy engine

This bilge-keel Surprise is a great opportunity for pleasure sailors looking for a boat that is both seaworthy, easy to handle, and economical to operate. Its shallow draft, beaching ability, and especially comprehensive wardrobe make it an appealing vessel for enjoying coastal sailing, particularly in Brittany.